Montevideo West Mission Address

Here’s a recent address for the Montevideo West Mission. We try to keep this information up to date, but it’s a good idea to check the address with several sources, including your mission packet or the mission office.

Montevideo West Mission Map

Videos with Montevideo West RMs

Here are in-depth YouTube video interviews with returned missionaries from the Montevideo West Mission. We interview hundreds of returned missionaries each year, so check back regularly to see new RM interviews.

LDS-Friendly Videos about Uruguay

Here are LDS-friendly educational videos about Uruguay. We scoured YouTube to find the best quality videos about Uruguay, that are free from inappropriate music, immodesty and profanity.

Montevideo West Missionary Blogs

Here’s a list of LDS missionary blogs for the Montevideo West Mission. This list includes the missionary’s name, URL and when their blog was updated.

Montevideo West Mission T-Shirts

Here are T-shirts for the Uruguay Montevideo West Mission!

Shirt designs include Montevideo West Mission logo/emblem shirts and Called to Serve shirts. The shirts make great gifts for pre-missionaries, returned missionaries and missionaries currently serving. LDS Mission shirts come in all sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, up to 4XL. The mission designs are printed on white shirts and are shipped to you.

*Simply click on a shirt design to view the details and submit an order. The designs on mission t-shirts may also be printed on other LDS mission gifts, including: Montevideo West missionary aprons, Christmas stockings, ties, pillow cases, teddy bears and Christmas ornaments.

Montevideo West Mission Presidents

Here’s a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the Montevideo West Mission.

2016-2019, Ryan K. Olsen

2013-2016, Thomas Allen Smith

2010-2013, Ronald Woodbury Heaton

2007-2009, Steven K. Peterson

2006-2007, Lewis C. Bankhead

2003-2006, Hernan Isaias Herrera Carmona

2000-2003, Gene R. Chidester

1997-2000, Kevin Monson

Uruguay LDS Statistics (2015)

Church Membership: 102,999

Missions: 2

Temples: 1

Congregations: 143

Family History Centers: 22

Helpful Articles about Uruguay

Coming soon..

Montevideo West Missionary Survey

Here are survey responses from Montevideo West RMs, to give you a snapshot into what it’s like to live in the mission.

When did you serve?

2014-2015 (Lindsey)

June 2013-May 2015 (Conner)

May 2015 (Kaylee)

2011-2013 (Tiffany)

1997-1999 (Anonymous)

1997-1998 (Mary)

Which areas did you serve in?

Montevideo- Flores, Artigas, Tacuarembo. (Lindsey)

Florida, Parque del Plata, and Jose de carrasco. (Tiffany)

Salto, Tacuarembo, Artigas, Montevideo, Tranqueras. (Anonymous)

Young, Mercedes, Paysandu, and Tacuarembo. (Mary)

What were some favorite foods?

Milanesas, alfajores, pan, guarana, asado. (Lindsey)

Guaraná. Technically from Brazil, but it is good. Pasta. Regular old pasta. (Conner)

Alfajores, milanesa, empanadas, etc. The food may take some time getting used to and you may get bored of it, but there is nothing really weird or gross that they eat. Really it is a blessing. Get ready for a lot of rice, pasta, and milanesa (breaded, fried meat). Also in Uruguay, they put a ton of mayonaise on literally everything, so prepare yourself mentally for that. (Kaylee)

There were always lots of dogs in the street, and in each area, we would have a “pet” dog that would follow us around. In one area, the dog would wait outside our house every morning and follow us as we proselyted! One time, he even followed us up this giant hill and when we came back at the end of the night, he was there waiting for us on the corner. (Lindsey)

I got hit by a motorcycle. In retrospect, it was funny. One time we were approached by a guy who wanted to talk, but didn’t want to give us his address. Lo and behold, we knocked on his door a few days later. (Conner)

Once a member asked us to go to her house to sing to her elderly mother when she wasn’t home because the mother was going to be alone for a long time. She told us to just walk in because no one but the mother was going to be home. We walked in, but it turned out her 14 year old son had ditched school that day so he yelled “what are you doing here???” and it was awkward for everyone. “Hi we’re the missionaries and we promise we’re not actually breaking into your house.” (Kaylee)

What was a crazy/dangerous experience?

In the capital, it was more dangerous and we had a few men follow us at night. I could see out of the corner of my eye that they were getting closer and following our movements. We began walking very, very quickly and moved toward the light, toward a bus stop. There, we were surrounded by people and light and we waited there for them to leave. That happened a couple of times, you just have to be really alert and always watching. (Lindsey)

I was hit by a dog. I was hit by a motorcycle. Drivers and buses are scary in general, but not too bad. A guy probably wanted to rob us once. (Conner)

Once we were contacting someone in the street and a crazy drunk man came up to us, got within 2 inches of my face, and just started laughing hysterically. We walked away really fast and he started following us. We headed to the house of the Bishop to hide out. Then we decided to go to the church to do Family History while we waited for it to be safe. About an hour later, he was still waiting outside for us! We walked back to the house of the Bishop and had a lesson with his family that night. (Kaylee)

Walking on the left side of the road, my companion and I were busy talking, and we heard a really loud pickup behind us. It was going really fast our direction. My companion kept talking, but I looked back to see it as it switched to the left lane for no apparent reason. As it drove closer to us, the side of the truck touched my companion and drove off honking and yelling things out the window. (Tiffany)

What was a spiritual experience?

Too many… Just one that I was thinking of right now is that we were walking down a road one day and saw a woman sitting on the side, selling used clothes. We walked past, but I had a very, very strong prompting to talk to her. We ended up sitting on the ground next to her and taught her the Restoration in 5 minutes. I felt prompted to give her The Book of Mormon as well. She gave us her address and when we came back later that week, she had already read the first 3 chapters of The Book of Mormon! She is still listening to the missionaries and is an incredible example of faith. (Lindsey)

We once had a member take an investigator to church and he was baptized about a month later. He is now sealed to his wife (the member) and the last I heard was a counselor in the Elder’s Quorum. (Conner)

We had found a name in the area book of previous investigators and felt we should go visit them. We went and knocked on their door without an appointment, and the man answered the door and said “Wow, I haven’t seen missionaries in months and months, but it seems that every time we are struggling, the missionaries come knocking.” It turned out that they really needed the Gospel at that time, and we just knew that God had led us to them. (Kaylee)

There was a woman that I tried to teach, but I was training and still working on the language. She spoke really fast and was hard to understand. I tried to invite her to be baptized, and she was really offended by either something I said, or the way I said it. Anyway, it was really hard for me to make amends because she spoke really fast, and wouldn’t let me speak. I left that charla crying. I kept praying for her, and I invited her to a few activities, but for the most part, I didn’t hear from her again. When I got home, my trainee sent me a picture of this woman and her daughters. She asked if I remembered them. I told her that I would never forget them, and asked if she had heard from them. Her next email had a picture of them and a couple of my converts dressed in white. My converts baptized these three girls. (Tiffany)

What are some interesting facts about the Montevideo West Mission?

We are the best mission in the world! We have three countries in one mission– Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. I was able to serve for a little bit in all three :). Everyone drinks mate in Uruguay. Our Mission President, Tom Smith, is the most inspired man I have ever met in my life. He has guided us to be a very obedient mission and for that I am so very grateful. (Lindsey)

There are parts of Brazil and Argentina in my mission. Everyone travels by bus for transfers. Transfers are called “changes.” (Conner)

Three countries are included in the mission boundaries! Most of the mission is in Uruguay, but there are also a few areas in Argentina and Brazil. The missionaries sent to Brazil learn Portuguese during their mission as well. (Kaylee)

Our mission was one of the most obedient missions. I hear things all the time from other missions that I had never seen in my mission. We were strict. (Tiffany)

What was the weather like?

Very tropical! Extremely humid, with tons of heat and humidity in the summer and bone-chilling coldness in the winter. And lots of rainstorms. 🙂 You get both extremes! (Lindsey)

It rains for three days off and on. Then it becomes hot and humid for three days. Repeat. In the winter, there is a penetrating cold. Don’t expect to be dry. (Conner)

Hot and cold. Really. The winters are so cold because of the humidity (no snow though), and the summers are also ridiculously hot. The farther north you are, the hotter it will be. There is quite a bit of rain and the humidity levels are really high all year long. (Kaylee)

Mild weather compared to Utah and Idaho, but way more humid. (Tiffany)

Hot and very humid. Winter is rainy. (Anonymous)

Hot, hot. And freeeezing. (Mary)

Any things you really like about the area/people?

The people are so warm and loving. They don’t have much, but they give you all they have!! They are sweet and kind and they will be your family. (Lindsey)

There are some really humble people- but you have to look hard for them. They drink mate. (Conner)

The people are so full of love. Uruguayos will tell their whole life story to a person they just met. They are always willing to offer you food and a drink, even if they have so little themselves. They want to help you. If you are headed to Uruguay on your mission, you are SO BLESSED because really it is the best country in the world filled with so many amazing people. (Kaylee)

Just about everyone is friendly.

Any packing/clothing advice?

Bring LOTS of warm things for the winter, I underestimated the cold! And for the summer as well, bring lots of light, light clothing! Also, my rain boots were so helpful and I was so grateful for them! (Lindsey)

Bring a good raincoat. It’s worth the money to get a really nice one that will last. Get a nice umbrella, too. Make sure that it will not break in the wind. Pack socks. Gooooood socks. My socks served me the best, because they dried well. Laundry is generally done by hand, and clothing is hang-dried. Pack a bunch of shirts. Long sleeves are a pain. (Conner)

Bring layers of clothing, a really good coat for the winter, rain boots, and fleece lined leggings. Good shoes are a must or they will be ruined in just a few months. Cotton shirts and underclothing are best for the humidity. (Kaylee)

It gets really cold in the rainy season, and you need a good waterproof coat, good boots and warm sleepwear. (Tiffany)

Light fabrics because of the humidity. Rain boots. (Anonymous)

You can buy a lot in the country. Pack light. (Mary)

What blessings did you receive from serving a mission?

I gained a testimony of everything about this gospel. I was converted and changed. My family was extremely blessed. There is not enough room to list even ten percent of the blessings I have received!! (Lindsey)

Too many to count. (Conner)

The blessings received are innumerable. I personally grew as a person and gained a stronger testimony than I knew possible. I saw lives change. I had the experience of a lifetime. I gained greater faith and trust and hope. I cannot describe even half of the blessings from my mission. In the Mission Training Center, we had a devotional by Elder Christofferson where he said “You came on your mission indebted to the Lord, but you will leave your mission even more indebted.” Truly the Lord blesses His missionaries. (Kaylee)

My sister is now on a mission, and my little brother is also preparing to leave. I can’t help but think that my choices have effected them in some way. (Tiffany)

All of them. Seriously. (Anonymous)

Greater world understanding, empathy, and appreciation. (Mary)

What are some skills you gained?

I can now speak Spanish and some Portuguese. I learned how to kill lots of bugs and how to get rid of lice. (Lindsey)

Sewing. Speaking Portuguese and refining my Spanish. (Conner)

I really learned how to manage my time wisely and plan (but also how to react when all plans fall through). I also improved in my budgeting skills. Obviously, I learned to speak Spanish. I learned how to connect with people and have conversations with strangers without feeling awkward. Spiritually, I learned how to hear and understand the promptings of the Spirit, which is the most useful skill I gained during my time serving. (Kaylee)

I matured a lot, and gained a lot of confidence. Spanish has also been a great blessing in my life. (Tiffany)

Well, now I am a high school Spanish teacher. 🙂 And I make a wicked milanesa. (Mary)

What do you wish you knew/did at the beginning of your mission?

You won’t learn the language right away in your first month! Be patient with yourself:) EXACT obedience is the only way to have a happy and successful mission. Be obedient, starting with day one in the CCM. Make the decision now to live every single rule with perfectness– including bed times and waking up. It’s how we show our love for Heavenly Father and it’s how we are blessed. (Lindsey)

I wish I knew how to speak Portuguese and cook. (Conner)

Obedience is the way we show our love to God. We can be obedient even when no one else is. There is always a way to be even more consecrated. Sometimes the blessings are not immediate, but they will always come. “You can count the seeds in an apple, but you can’t count the apples in a seed.” I also wish I just got over myself. Maybe I had a fear of contacting or maybe I was afraid of talking in the lessons because my Spanish wasn’t perfect and I didn’t want to make a mistake or maybe I was thinking about home. It is so much easier when you just leave your fears and personal feelings behind and just do it. Just serve. Love the people. If you do your best, the Lord will always do the rest. It’s not easy, but I wish I had just left my fears behind and served with ALL my heart earlier on. (Kaylee)

It’s a good idea to keep some money in your account that is not going toward the mission itself and check your balance on the internet on preparation day. It is not against the rules to check your balance. It is also not against the rules to upload your pictures onto dropbox and share it with your family. It is way more efficient than trying to email the pictures, and it’s a good way to save the pictures in case something happens to your phone. (Tiffany)

Have a sense of humor, and don’t take things too seriously. Don’t be hyper paranoid about how our actions affect someone’s conversion. God knows and loves them as much as He knows and loves us. Don’t succumb to the fear/shame/manipulation tactics which cater to the lowest common denominator. God’s love and Spirit is there for you to access no matter what. Love yourself at your best. And love yourself at your worst. There are times you will be legitimately frustrated, whether by a rule, a fake “vote me for A.P.” type missionary, or an inescapable situation. Have compassion/love for yourself going through these experiences. Then that love will help the anger gremlins work themselves out (much healthier than resisting reality). And that love will then spill out into everything you do. Which is kinda the point. (Mary)

Any advice/testimony for pre-missionaries going to Montevideo West?

Read the Book of Mormon and establish a study and a testimony of it now. Study the doctrines!! The doctrine is the key. Remember that baptisms are not everything! It is just as important to bring someone back to The Church as it is to baptize someone. Talk with EVERYONE! Everyone needs the gospel! Remember that faith casts out fear. Obey with exactness! (Lindsey)

Be patient. 90% of the country is inactive, so know how to teach members too. Don’t worry about baptisms. Baptism is only 1/5 of your purpose! (Conner)

Trust in the Lord completely. When you feel you have no one, He is there, and maybe He is just giving you a chance to strengthen your relationship with Him. Your mission will not go according to your perfect plans, but it is all in His perfect plan. Give over your will to His, do what He asks you to do, and it will all be much easier in the end. He is the light, the truth and the way. Trust in Him. (Kaylee)

Dress nice. You don’t want people to think that you are Amish or Jehovah Witness. You also don’t want to distract people by wearing crazy patterns or stained clothes. (Tiffany)

Understand the anti stuff before hand. Don’t go in blind. So much of anti literature is misrepresented, out of context heresy. And some of it is quite legitimate. Just as people were imperfect in the past, you will find some surprising imperfections among current leadership. Don’t be shaken by it or lose sight of what you know. At the end of the day, testimony comes from your own experience. Also, don’t be self-righteous. There are some pretty amazing Catholics, Evangelists, and Cristianos out there who could teach us a thing or two about discipleship. (Mary)

What was a funny language mistake?

One missionary said he had a crush on the Zone Leader, when he was trying to say that he liked him. The funniest thing is the word “actually.” Just because “actualmente” sounds like it, doesn’t mean that it has the same meaning. (Conner)

Once I was trying to say that I had pain in my tummy (panza) but accidently said pancho (hot dog) instead. I also was trying to say that Christ was full of grace, and used the word “gracioso” which actually means funny. My companion said that she knew we could all be forgiven for our fish (pescado) instead of sins (pecados). (Kaylee)

One time at a members house, a member kept asking if we needed to use the restroom, but she sounded hesitant. She kept saying a few things that I didn’t quite understand. Finally, I was like, sure I’ll use the restroom just in case. After I flushed the toilet, water started to come up from the drain on the floor, and I realized what she was talking about. from that point, I remembered what “tire la cadena” means. (Tiffany)

“Pedo una hamburguesa” instead of “Pido una hamburguesa.” Is the difference between farting a burger and ordering a burger. (Mary)